JV and the Nexus. Nroo Homeworld, Near the Sign, The Pit. Changes in the Roster Pt 1

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Rala: *spinning around happily on the bridge of Kup and Perceptor's ship as he sings by means of playing one of Kup's Johnny Cash recordings* I fell in-to a burnin' ring of fire...

Kup: *soft chuckle as he watches Rala, is in the midst of making sure everything on Perceptor's list is packed, and that Johnny and Perceptor are ready for take-off*

Perceptor and Johnny: *passed out in a nest of blankets on the berth in the sleeping cabin*

Kup: *will gently smooth Johnny's helm, and lean to kiss Perceptor's, before he's moving to finish up final checks*

Cron: *as he brings in a last box* Can I come too?

Torka: No, you're staying and getting a headache like everyone else. *gentle touch for Rala* Be good for Kup.

Rala: *happy static and lights add emphasis to his dry little Nroo voice* I'm always good!

Kup: *chuckles as he moves to grab the box Cron's carrying* *to Torka* I'll make sure Rala stays out of trouble.

Torka: Thank you, Kup. Do it for yourself, too please.

Kup: *snerks and reaches to gently touch Torka* I make no promises aside from that I won't fly like a maniac.

Torka: *soft static* I'll see you when you come home. Cron, get out of the cupboard.

Kup: *Look for the cupboard*

Cron: *slinks out and zips down the ramp to the ground*

Kup: *snerk* *fond mutter* Rassa-frassin' revvin' turbo-punk.....

Torka: *soft crackle of laughter* To be fair, I think he's mostly worried about Rala. He's excited about the new baby though, too. So he'll be alright.

Kup: *quieter* I know... *slight smirk* He's still a punk though.

Torka: *as she scoots toward the ramp* You know what they say about knowledge by personal familiarity.

Kup: *chuckles* See you soon, Torka.

Torka: God bless. *scoots on down and is gone*

Rala: *moving his arms in the gesture of affection, and then the one for farewell as he watches older sister go*

Kup: *gentle touch for Rala* *gently* Let's get you secured for take-off....

Rala: Okay. *spins a last happy circle, his lights making patterns of excitement and joy* What do I do?

Kup: *indicates the box with a smile* Well, let me put this in the hold, and then I'll strap you in the co-pilot's seat.

Rala: Yay! *lights show the excitement that doesn't show in the crackly little voice* Do we strap Johnny and Aunty down too? *curls arms in question*

Kup: Only if we enter a debris field. I don't think we'll have to worry about that on this trip....

Rala: Okay. *gonna try pushing the box. Push push...*

Kup: *chuckles and moves to carry the box in his arms over to the hold steps*

Rala: *push push push. Peek. Oh. Stairs.*

Kup: *gentle, reassuring touch, will carry his box down the stairs and come back for the box Rala pushed over*

Rala: *happy lights again as he nudges the box to Kup*

Kup: *quick to get this box secured and then it's back up the stairs* Let's get you strapped in.

Rala: Okay! *waves arms as he scoots for the modified co-pilot's seat* This one, right?

Kup: *chuckle* Yup. *will carefully lift Rala into the modified seat and get the forcefield net going so the young Nroo won't fall out*

Rala: *starts singing about prison blues as his lights twinkle happily*

Kup: *amused as he finishes securing Rala and gets started on pre-flight check-offs. Once he's gotten through the list and the engines are hot, the ship is taking off*

Rala: *and now he's singing about the Caddie made from collected parts* *isn't scared one bit to be leaving his homeworld behind*

Kup: *softly singing along as he works to get the ship to orbit*

Rala: *finishes the song and then studies the monitors in concentrating silence before he remembers the little gadget Kup brought him from the Nexus. Takes it off of where it's stuck to his side with a magnet, and then holds it up where his sensors can focus through it* It looks like the world's wearing a blanket. That's funny.

Kup: *chuckles* It does.... Those are the clouds.... Seems odd to see 'em from above, huh?

Rala: Yeah. I don't think I ever really looked at them before. They're so far away it's hard to see anything. I like looking up at the trees, though. *turns his viewer slightly and makes a happy little pop*

Kup: *more chuckle* I wonder how big the tree by the house will be when we get back?

Rala: Some trees get a spurt during the rainy season! *stops and thinks* But none of the other Ralas ever saw a baby skyflame before, so I don't know if they do.

Kup: Well, that's something you'll be able to pass on then... *chuckles as the ship settles into orbit*

Rala: *another happy little sound* Yup! *then his lights go quizzical* Kup, is that another ship?

Kup: ... *looks to the monitors* It might be.... *slight frown. There shouldn't be any other ships out this way..... Right?*

Rala: But I thought nobody comes here but you.

Kup: *frowning muchly now as he checks the ship's scanners* I'm not sure, Rala....

Rala: Your voice doesn't sound happy. *lights slowing and moving in an uneasy and ready to be scared pattern*

Kup: It could be debris....

Rala: A broken ship? *and then he's making a sound of alarm and his lights are going nuts as something hits the ship and makes it shake*

Kup: *cuss! Franticly checking sensors to see what the damage is*

damage: *bad and getting worse as two Combaticons whale on the ship. Blast Off gets in a couple shots as he swoops over to join his brothers*

Kup: *low curse reserved only for the absolute worst of situations*

ship: *shakes again*

Perceptor: *startled cry from the cabin*

Johnny: *scared by Mama cry. Wails*

Kup: *on his stabilizing servos, running to check on Perceptor and Johnny*

Rala: Kup! Kup! *unhappy sounds*

Kup: Everything's going to be alright. *no, he doesn't believe that, but he has to say something!*

Perceptor: *is that clang and shriek as the ship lurches*

Johnny: *wails get louder and more terrified*

Kup: *hurrying to get to his wife and son*

Rala: *crying like the baby he so recently was*

ship: *seems to groan, and then there's a sharp cracking sound and the pressure starts dropping*

Kup: *remembers the PINpoint that the little Transformer gave him ages ago, will try and PINpoint the entire ship someplace safe*


Nexus


Blackout: *glances over from her place by the sign as the little ship and its unpleasant passenger appears*

Jetfire: *looks over from where he was chortling about getting scolded by Lifeline*

Ratchet: *looks to see what distracted the strange man from whatever he was laughing about* 0_0 Someone help them!

Blackout: *leaps over him on her way to the ship. There's a thunderous boom... And it's raining Bruticus parts*

Lifeline: *hiding on Papa!* *oiled on him too*

Jetfire: *cracks up at Combaticon pwnage. Hearty, leg-slapping laughter ensues*

Ratchet: *fussing over Lifeline and keeping watch. Is also fretting*

Blackout: *comes back over and leans down to hold out her hand* There, they're helped. What's it worth?

Ratchet: .... Er... *glad he got his shopping done earlier, is getting out the money he has on hand*

Blackout: *accepts it, and then jerks her head at Jetfire as she straightens. Come get all this salvage*

Jetfire: *nods and proceeds to do so, still chortling softly*

Lifeline: *soft squee, still hiding*

Ratchet: *soothing sounds, will gently rub Lifeline's back and move to approach the ship. Fears the worst*


Aboard the ship


Perceptor: *fainted at that boom*

Rala: *so scared he's not making a sound. All his arms are pulled close, and his viewer is broken on the floor*

Kup: *shakily checking over his wife and son, will pick them up and carry them to the bridge*

Johnny: *clinging to Daddy with all he's got. Is too scared to move*

Kup: *soothing clicks as he moves to check on Rala* *quietly* Everything's going to be okay....

Rala: *very slow and cautious light movement. It's like a whisper*

Kup: *cycling air and trying to get his spark to stop doing an 'eeeeek' dance* *gentle touch for Rala*

Rala: What... happened, Kup? Something broke the ship. *wibbly light show*

Johnny: *unhappy little crackles by way of adding to what Rala said*

Kup: *quietly* The ship's not broken, I don't think.... I brought it someplace safe.... *startles as someone knocks on the outside*

Rala: *draws his arms up again and shuts his lights off*

Kup: *quick to call up a visual feed, surprised and relieved sound when he sees who is outside* Ratchet.... *will gently nudge Perceptor*

Perceptor: *small sound, and then disoriented blinking*

Kup: *quietly* We're safe....

Ratchet: *sounding a bit worried now* Hello? Is everyone alright in there?

Johnny: *hears that familiar voice* *calls a reply*

Perceptor: *startles slightly at her son's call, then frowns and seems to pass out again*

Kup: *worried for his wife, even as he moves to let Ratchet on board* -Perceptor?-

Ratchet: *peeks into the bridge once he's on board* *surprised sound* Kup! Perceptor! *relief is clear on his face and in his voice*

Johnny: *wibbles and then talks about the bad scare with much popping, crackling, and hissing*

Rala: *quietly and shyly moving his lights as he looks at the stranger*

Ratchet: *soothing sounds as he moves to approach* *will peek into his carrying hold and offer a hand to Lifeline*

Lifeline: *waves his hand away and then pulls her own back into her towel nest* *issa hidin' baby!*

Ratchet: *softly* Don't you want to see Kup's baby, Lifeline? *is calm. There's no more scary*

Lifeline: *softly* Bweee...

Johnny: *pauses and cranes his neck in search of the source of that sound*

Kup: *trying to get a glimpse of Lifeline as well, is curious despite himself*

Ratchet: *soothingly* Everything's alright, Lifeline... *will scan Kup and Perceptor*

Lifeline: *will sit up and peek out, stooping as she squints slightly. Spots the other baby and pops and squeaks with quiet excitement*

Johnny: *well and strong, and already getting over his fright. Talks back to the little stranger, but doesn't let go of Daddy*

Perceptor: *systems in a minor shock from the fright she's had*

Ratchet: *gentle hand on Perceptor's shoulder* *attention going to Rala, expression going curious*

Kup: Rala, this is Ratchet... He's a friend of mine from a long time ago....

Rala: *arms uncertainly make the gesture of friendship* *crackly little voice* Hi.

Lifeline: *decides that she's coming out. There is work to be done here! Brings towels with her*

Ratchet: *gently* Hello, Rala.

Kup: *soft chuckle as he watches Lifeline*

Lifeline: *sitting in Papa's arms now, she pushes shut the hold and then leans over toward Johnny, chirping and beeping away as she wriggles her little fat fingers at him*

Johnny: o.0?

Rala: *softly, his lights moving in slow curiosity* What's she doing?

Ratchet: She's saying hello...

Johnny: *cautiously offers his hand to the other baby. Quiet crackling*

Lifeline: *suddenly stops short as she notices Perceptor* *squeee!* Papa! Papa!

Ratchet: *soothingly, as he moves to tend to Perceptor* Everything will be alright....

Kup: *quietly fussing over his wife now*

Lifeline: *wants on the floor, Papa. Wants the other baby with her!* *wriggle, popsqueakbeepbeep!*

Rala: *kind of wants down too*

Ratchet: *will gently set Lifeline down and move to see if Rala would like to join her on the floor*

Rala: *is agreeable. And then is making little sounds and gestures of surprise as he finds himself with a towel over his lights and small hands pat patting him*

Johnny: *well now, he wants to see what they're doing. Tries asking Mama, and then wibbles when she doesn't reply*

Kup: *worried sounds as he continues to fuss over Perceptor and Johnny*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle as he watches Rala and Lifeline interacting, will turn his attention to Kup and Perceptor*

Johnny: *pats Mama and calls, his little face beginning to show the return of signs of distress* Mamama!

Ratchet: *scans Perceptor again, and tries pinging her comm*

Perceptor: *intakes softly and turns her head slightly* //Johnny...//

Kup: *soothingly* He's right here, Perceptor.... Ratchet found us, we're safe....

Perceptor: //...Kup.// *sounds confused and alarmed*

Kup: *soothingly* //I used that teleporter doodad to bring the ship someplace safe... Ratchet happened to be nearby...//

Perceptor: *finally manages to get her optics online* *soft sound of discomfort* //Oh... I don't feel well.//

Ratchet: *soothingly* Easy, Perceptor... *gently checking to see if the scientist is injured*

Perceptor: *only the strain of her shock is visible, though it's still got her systems running a bit out of kilter* //Forgive me... foolish.// *looks at him wanly, embarrassed by her own weakness*

Ratchet: *soothingly* After the scare you had, it's understandable.

Kup: *will gently nuzzle Perceptor's helm* *soft engine rumble*

Perceptor: *hand curls, and then curves toward her son, but her optics are flickering again and then she slips back into unconsciousness*

Kup: *fretting quietly*

Ratchet: *quietly* It might be best to relocate to the Pit's infirmary....

Kup: ... *frowns at Ratchet*

Lifeline: *looks up and bounces on her butt pad, seconding Papa's prescription by means of beeps and pops and squeaks*

Rala: *concerned light show beneath the towel* Is Aunty sick?

Ratchet: *soothingly, to Rala* She's had a good scare, but she'll be alright with rest in a quiet, safe place.

Kup: ... *well, darn. He can't think of a good counter for that...*

Rala: *quietly* What's the Pit?

Lifeline: Home! Home home!

Ratchet: *nods* It's where a lot of the Autobots call home...

Kup: *to Ratchet* You sure it's safe?

Ratchet: Quite... It's just a bit noisy in the hallways when Jazz's sons get going.... *chuckles*

Kup: *relaxes now that he knows that the Pit is where Jazz was talking about*

Rala: Kup? Is it okay? *quiet crackle as Lifeline remembers him and starts bandaging his arms with towels*

Kup: It's okay, Rala... *trails off as he watches Lifeline, soft chuckle* And it seems you've got a new friend....

Rala: What's she doing? *a bit afraid to move, lest he mess up the baby's project*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* I think she believes you're hurt.... She's trying to bandage your arms...

Rala: But bandages don't help Nroo. We don't have any liquid stuff in us.

Kup: *soft chuckle as he watches Lifeline work* I don't think she knows that, Rala.... Either that, or she's trying to help ya feel better...

Rala: Ohhhh. I think I know what to do. *hugga Lifeline*

Lifeline: *soft squee and a hug and patpat back*

Ratchet: *pinging General Hawk and Jazz, is explaining the situation*

Kup: *moves to carefully crouch down next to the two youngsters on the floor in the meantime*

General Hawk: //These are more Autobots, Ratchet?//

Jazz: //Man, I thought Percy was attached ta where they were livin'.// *concerned*

Ratchet: *to General Hawk* //They're normally very remote...// *to Jazz* //They showed up in the Nexus, with Decepticons attacking their ship... I have no idea why they left....//

Jazz: *pings Kup*

Kup: *slight start* //What?//

Jazz: *deep voice gentle* //What's up, man? You leavin' your place?//

Kup: //No.... It's spawning season... We were just going to orbit the planet...//

Jazz: //Spawnin' season? What's that?//

Kup: //... When the Nroo get new members of the community... And if there's a piece of tech that someone doesn't speak for quickly enough, even if it's another Nroo....//

Jazz: //...What about 'em?//

Blackout: *knocks politely on the ship door*

Kup: //The pieces of tech become new Nroo...// *startled blurt at the knock*

Jazz: *sharply* //What's wrong?//

Ratchet: *looks over his shoulder, moves to see who could be knocking on the door*

Blackout: *holds out Bruticus' angrily pulsing spark compartment* You want this?

Ratchet: *quietly* They'd just attack Autobots....

Blackout: *frowns at him* They're sparks. They can't attack anything. *pauses to investigate a flash from the case* Except each other.

Ratchet: *considering* We do have a cell....

Blackout: *hands the spark casing over, and then turns to go sell the rest of Bruticus*

Ratchet: *lets First Aid know what's going on, will also update General Hawk and Jazz*

Jazz: *low whistle* //That sounds like Bruticus.//

General Hawk: //Bruticus?//

Ratchet: //I think it was, to be perfectly honest....// *to General Hawk* //A combiner team of Decepticons.... They were known for being especially cruel and vicious....//

Jazz: *sounds pleased* //How much money'd you give Blackout?//

Ratchet: //What I had left after the Mall run.... About $150....//

Jazz: //I'll send 'er some more.//

General Hawk: //What? Jazz, we can't deal with mercenaries.//

Jazz: *cheerfully* //See ya when ya get back, Ratch!// *closes the line he and the General were talking on*

Kup: ... Who was that?

Ratchet: General Hawk... He's one of the humans in charge of the Pit....

Lifeline: *looks up* Thrrrpt thrrp.

Rala: *crackle of surprised laughter at the funny sound*

Johnny: *curious look*

Ratchet: *chuckles* *to Lifeline* Be nice.... *to Kup* I've let First Aid know what's going on... Let's get your family to the Pit.

Kup: *considering look* We'd be able to get back home, right?

Ratchet: *nods* You'll have to go through the Nexus to do it, but I don't think anything will stop you.

Rala: *wistfully, though his lights are hidden* It's safe?

Ratchet: It's safe, and there are other babies there as well.

Rala: *arms curl with interest* I'm not a baby anymore, but it'll be nice not to be smaller than everybody else.

Ratchet: *soft chuckle*

Kup: *grump* So are we going or not? *is worried about Perceptor*

Rala: *cautiously, drawing his arms close* I'm ready.

First Aid: //Everything's ready, Ratchet.//

Ratchet: //Alright. Incoming...// Three... two... one... *will bring the ship to the Pit*

greenshirts: *a chorus of awe as the ship appears in the hanger*

Ace: *from where he's holding onto Skywarp's shoulder* Wow...

Skywarp: *snerks, moves to knock on the door of the shuttle*


Inside the ship...


Kup: *tense and cycling air now*

Ratchet: *calmly letting Skywarp know that he needs to back up*

Rala: What's wrong, Kup? We're safe, remember?

Kup: That's.... That's a Seeker....

Ratchet: He's no longer a Decepticon, Kup. *moving to lift Lifeline and Johnny* He's just here to bring the kids to daycare...

Kup: .... Daycare? *blink blink, hesitant glance at Skywarp*

Skywarp: *frowning with concern as he gets Ace back up on his shoulder*

Lifeline: *tells about daycare!* *bwoop beep beep!*

Ratchet: *will move to gently usher everyone out of the shuttle* Where the kids stay during the day, if they're not with their parents....

Rala: Don't forget me. I'm not very good at going down the ramp yet.

Ace: So that's Kup, huh? He doesn't look that scary.

Skywarp: Yeah... Ask again after you've gotten into a fight with him... *moves to see if he can pick Rala up*

Rala: *stops his scooting back and forth, and makes the gesture of friendship to the big being who just lifted him* Hi, I'm Rala, of Kup's family.

Skywarp: I'm Skywarp.... *will attempt to gank Lifeline and Johnny now*

Lifeline: *looks at Papa as she points to Uncle Skywarp and asks a question*

Johnny: *hide!*

Ratchet: *gently, to Lifeline* Do you want to go to daycare, Lifeline?

Lifeline: *distracted by Johnny's actions, but looks back up to Papa and nods as she patpats the other baby. Johnny obviously needs someone to show him around*

Ratchet: *soothing sounds for Johnny as he moves to gently transfer both babies to Skywarp*

Skywarp: *gentle, soothing sounds. For such a big, scary Seeker, he's really quite good with kids... When he's not being a derp*

Ace: *distracted from his curiosity about Rala by the need to give Kup an intense scrutiny. Has no idea that he's the first human that the old man's seen up close* *also just nearly fell off Skywarp's shoulder again*

Kup: *warily watching Skywarp, blinks a bit as he sees the Seeker carefully rearrange kids and carefully repositioning Ace* O_o

Ace: *grumbling* I can moonwalk with no problem, I don't see why that's so hard. *looks up* Hi, I'm Ace. Skywarp's partner.

Kup: *hesitantly* Hi...

Ratchet: *gently, to Kup* Let's get you and Perceptor settled... *trails off as Cat Scan calls him. Pinches the bridge of his nose as he reassures his partner that he got everything on the shopping list*

Ace: *just sneezed so hard that he joined the babies and Rala*

Skywarp: *laughs at Ace's derp, even as he makes sure the smaller man is unharmed* Niiiice!

Lifeline: *also checking Ace over, even as she scolds him in perfect wordless imitation of her father*

Johnny: *poke the Ace. Poke poke...*

Skywarp: *too amused, will move to bring Lifeline and the visiting kids to the daycare*

Kup: *boggling now, recognizes the scolding Lifeline's doing*

Ratchet: *will bring Kup and Perceptor to the infirmary via PINpoint, earning a startled curse from the old soldier*

Cat Scan: *from where she's sitting on one of the examination tables* ... That's nice. What's your malfunction?

First Aid: *clucks* Cat Scan, please be nice. He's worried about his wife. *turns and comes to greet the old soldier, her arms going out to gently take Perceptor* *softly, to her husband* There's a call for you from the Pretty Sailor.

Kup: *hesitant to transfer Perceptor to the medic*

Ratchet: *small nod, will answer the call* //This is Autobot medic Ratchet.//

rasping, hissing voice: //One moment, Ratchet...//

First Aid: *smiles up at Kup from behind her optic band and mask, the expression friendly and reassuring* I won't drop her, Kup. I promise.

Kup: *very reluctant, but will gently transfer Perceptor over to the medic*

Ratchet: *puzzled expression, even as he offers Cat Scan the shopping bags from the Mall run* //Alright...//

First Aid: *gently* I know you always trusted Ratchet more than me, but isn't it nice to have another woman to help Perceptor?

Kup: .... 0_0 *boggling now*

First Aid: ... *blinks behind her optic band* ...Didn't Ratchet tell you?

Kup: ... *small headshake* *is just a bit shocked*

First Aid: *sighs and shakes her own head gently, then pats his arm* Yes. I'm Ratchet's wife. Lifeline is our daughter. *looks over his shoulder* Don't startle him, Desinex.

Kup: *quickly looking over his shoulder and boggling a bit*

Desinex: *snerks and moves to lean against the table Cat Scan's sitting on*

First Aid: *gently pats Kup's arm again* *softly* May I have Perceptor?

Kup: *reluctantly transfers his wife over to the medic*

First Aid: *leads him down the hall toward the private room, speaking softly and reassuringly all the way*

voice: //I return, Ratchet. Forgive the wait.//

Ratchet: //That's alright. What's the nature of this call?// *curious*

voice: //I am Corporal Grok of the IGP. The young Kevar Viper you ssssent to our ship was put into my care.//

Ratchet: //How is she doing?//

Grok: //She has finally started to eat on her own, though she sssstill attempts to attack me at times.//

Ratchet: *concerned* //Are you alright?//

Grok: //...Yes. Why are you asking?//

Ratchet: //From what I've learned, Kevar Vipers are dangerous...//

Grok: //Ah.// *simply* //Sssso am I.//

Ratchet: //....// *quietly* //Oh....//

Grok: //I am sssending you an image file which the captain said is the proper sssort of gift to give to one who has rescued a child. What format do you need?//

Ratchet: *names off one of the formats he can process easily*

Grok: //Alright... ssending.// *databursts the file*

Ratchet: *accepts the file and opens it once it arrives*

image: *the young Kevar Viper, alert and curious as she looks toward the photographer. Both her hands are gripping the powerful, armour plated arm of the massive white reptilian being with cold red eyes who stands beside her. It is clear that this arm has been upraised to keep her away from said photographer*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* //I'm glad she's doing well.//

Grok: //The captain said that you would be.//

Ratchet: *more chuckle* //Ens. Falman's doing well.... He and the human soldiers get along well.//

Grok: //...This surprisesss me. However, I will tell the captain.//

Ratchet: *sends an image in the same format as the one Grok sent of Vato playing touch football with the greenshirts. The disguised Mrrpt-Nyaah looks as though he's having the time of his life*

Grok: *utter surprise in his deep voice* //The person behind them. The furred one. What isss she?//

Ratchet: //She's a rat that was genetically altered by her contact with a chemical.... Her name is Splinter, and she's the daughter of two of our soldiers.//

Grok: *is that wistfulness?* //I sssee.//

Ratchet: *puzzled now* //Is something wrong?//

Grok: //No. Have you anymore questions about the Viper?//

Ratchet: *doesn't believe you, Grok, but he'll let the matter go* //No... Thanks for letting me know how she's doing.//

Grok: //You are welcome. Corporal Grok out.//

Ratchet: //Ratchet out.// *closes the comm line*

Desinex: *amused as she studies the image that Ratchet's projecting* The white guy was trying to hold the Viper back. *amused*

Cat Scan: ....I wouldn't want to meet either one in a dark alley way.

Desinex: *dirty rotten chuckle* The Viper'd be thinking you look like something tasty to eat, Cat Scan.

Cat Scan: *Look for Desinex* Knock it off.

Ratchet: Alright, you two....

First Aid: *is that soft talking over in the private room as she supports Perceptor's head and gives the smaller woman a drink of mild bio diesel*

Kup: *is quietly reassuring Perceptor, though he sounds a bit shaky himself*

Perceptor: *finishes drinking the gentle, sweet fuel, and then blinks faintly up at her husband as First Aid lays her back and tucks the warmed blanket around her*

First Aid: *softly* Rest and quiet is all she needs, Kup.

Kup: *small nod, will reach to gently smooth his wife's helm*

First Aid: *moves out of his way* It might be best... *stops and turns her head toward the door as she's sent a heads up of an incoming casualty* Oh dear! *hurries out of the room*

Kup: *moving to join Perceptor on the berth and hold her close*

Ratchet: *hurrying to get the infirmary prepped*

First Aid: *comes in as well, asking questions of the team who is bringing in the patient* *soft gasp* Ratchet, it's Hot Rod.

Ratchet: *so surprised* 0_0

Cat Scan: Who? *is helping get equipment set up*

Desinex: *frowning and moving to get out of the way*

First Aid: He's a young friend of Optimus and Springer.

Cat Scan: Huh.... How bad is he hurt?

First Aid: *face falling slightly* You know that meteor strike they say happened last night?

Cat Scan: .... That was him, wasn't it?

Ratchet: Everything's ready.

First Aid: *softly* For some reason he was trying to make landfall without a ship.

Cat Scan: *wince wince wince*

First Aid: *grabs some things and hurries out to meet the incoming soldiers*

Stormshadow: *peeks cautiously from Cat Scan's sleeve, then withdraws*

Cat Scan: *soft reassurances for Stormshadow*

Ratchet: *will scan Hot Rod as he's brought in*

First Aid: *has her hands over the young bot's shattered chest plate, and her eyes are wide behind her optic band*

Ratchet: *scanning and moving to get Hot Rod hooked up to system support* *soft sound of surprise as he realizes that he's been so very wrong about Hot Rod's gender for all the time he's known the soldier*

Cat Scan: *looks over from double-checking equipment, brows up as she sees where First Aid's hands are* Er.... What's going on?

First Aid: *waits till the soldiers have left, then exchanges a glance with her husband* Do you think Optimus or Springer know?

Ratchet: ...I... don't think so....

First Aid: *softly, as she sets to work, uncovering Hot Rod's chest in the process* Should I call Springer or Arcee?

Ratchet: Arcee. She was in the same training group.....

First Aid: *nods and calls the pink woman*

Arcee: //What's up, First Aid?//

First Aid: *quietly* //Hot Rod's here, Arcee.//

Arcee: //...// *quietly* //When did she arrive?//

First Aid: *intakes* //You know, then. They just brought her in. She... she attempted a shipless landing last night.//

Arcee: //.... What?!//

First Aid: //She's hurt badly. Her spark compartment is shattered.// *startles as she catches another ping on the channel*

Jazz: //Hey, Arcee. I forgot ta tell ya. Kup's here at the Pit.//

Arcee: //....When did he get here, and why haven't you told Springer yet?//

Jazz: //Easy, girl. I was fillin' out all his and Percy's paper work.//

First Aid: //He and Perceptor got here just before they brought Hot Rod in.//

Arcee: //...Perceptor's alive? I thought he was killed back on Cybertron...//

Jazz: //Nah. Percy's ben livin' with Kup waaaaay out on the other side'a the galaxy.//

Arcee: //Wow....//

Ratchet: *working on getting Hot Rod stabilized, paying only very slight attention to his surroundings*

First Aid: //Perceptor and Kup are here in the infirmary too, Arcee. Perceptor was badly frightened on their way here, and needed a little help.//

Arcee: //Eeesh.... He'll be okay, right?//

First Aid: //Oh yes.// *hesitates* //How do you know Kup and Perceptor?//

Arcee: //Kup trained Hot Rod, Springer, and me....//

First Aid: *hand to her face* //Ohhhhhh. I'd better let him know that Hot Rod's here, then.//

Jazz: //I better get back ta work. Lemme know how Roddy comes through, okay, 'Aid?//

First Aid: //I will, Jazz. Thank you.//

Arcee: //Let Kup know Springer and I are here too?//

First Aid: //Alright, Arcee. I'll do that now. And we'll keep you updated on Hot Rod.//

Arcee: //Thanks, 'Aid...//

First Aid: //You're welcome, Arcee. First Aid out.// *turns her head to look at her husband and Cat Scan*

Cat Scan: ... *giving you a puzzled and concerned look now, First Aid*

Ratchet: *working on repairs*

First Aid: *intakes deeply* *softly* Ratchet, Kup was Hot Rod's mentor. And Springer and Arcee's too.

Ratchet: .... *quietly* He'll want to know that they're here....

First Aid: *nods* I'll go tell him now. Do you need any help?

Ratchet: I think we can manage...

First Aid: Alright. *turns and hurries down the hall to Kup and Perceptor's room, then knocks gently at the door*

Kup: *carefully getting up so as not to disturb Perceptor, will cautiously open the door enough to see who's out there*

First Aid: *looks up at him, her concern clear despite her optic band and face mask*

Kup: *still tense from the attack on the shuttle earlier, and being in an unfamiliar place* *quietly* Yeah?

First Aid: *softly* Arcee asked me to let you know that she and Springer are here.

Kup: .... *surprised and a bit relieved* Glad to hear it...

First Aid: *quietly* And Hot Rod... she just tried to land last night without a ship.

Kup: .... *skidplate, meet ground*

First Aid: *cry of surprise, and then hurries to kneel next to the old man and scan him*

Kup: *stalled due to the shock of learning Hot Rod's gender combined with his earlier stress*

First Aid: *works quickly to get him running again* *softly* Easy, Kup. Can you hear me?

Perceptor: *sitting up on the bed and shaking as she tries to understand what happened to her husband*

First Aid: *moves to help him off the floor and guide him over to the bed* Here, you'd better lay down, poor Kup.

Perceptor: *reaches concerned small hands toward her husband*

Kup: *trying to focus on something that does make sense: snuggling with his wife* *is easily guided and is soon clinging to Perceptor*

First Aid: *scans him again, checking his spark and systems*

Perceptor: *soft murmurs as she nestles close to Kup*

Kup: *still a bit stressed, and it shows in how strained his systems are currently* *will cling to Perceptor like a lifeline*

First Aid: *takes out her sedation gun and gives the old soldier a low level sedative* Easy, Kup. Circulate and try to relax.

Kup: *doing his best to follow instructions*

First Aid: Shhh. It's going to be alright. *rubs his back gently as she continues to watch his systems* *also tells her husband what just happened*

Ratchet: //...He must not have known....//

First Aid: //Known...? Oh dear!// *free hand to her face*

Ratchet: //How is he?//

First Aid: //I've sedated him lightly. But his systems are strained.// *soft sigh* //I'd say he's in nearly the same state that Perceptor was when you brought her in.//

Ratchet: //It might be best to raise the sedation level....//

First Aid: //Alright.// *adjusts the gun and then once more injects the light temporary program into Kup's systems*

Kup: *slight flinch before his systems slow and he slips into a light doze*

First Aid: There. *reassuring smile for Perceptor as she covers them both up, then watches till the small scientist too lapses into slumber before she comes back to the main part of the infirmary* *quietly* They're both resting now. Poor Hot Rod.

Ratchet: *quietly* Good.... Hot Rod's going to be alright, if we can keep.... her... from trying to jump off of roofs....



Continued here